The Buffalo Sabres' eight-game winning streak has pushed aside any thought about new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen immediately making a flurry of roster moves, but that doesn't mean there won't be a marquee deal or two ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline in March.
Buffalo has an abundance of talent on its blue line as a remarkable jump in performance from Mattias Samuelsson has vaulted him into a first-pair role alongside Rasmus Dahlin. The Blue and Gold also feature Owen Power, Bowen Byram and Michael Kesselring on the back end.
It's reasonable to believe Kekalainen may use that area of strength as he hunts a high-scoring forward before the deadline, and Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon was on the same wavelength as he delivered his bold predictions for the NHL in 2026.